How Healthy Is Tampa Bay?

A report says Tampa Bay is behind the nation in suicide, lung cancer and diabetes rates, but better in stroke death rates.

A report released Wednesday by the group One Bay Healthy Communities says Tampa Bay leads in some health indicators, and lags in others.

The report says Tampa Bay exceeded national rates for lung cancer, suicide and diabetes.

And about a quarter of adults are obese -- up from 22 percent in 2002.

Betty Carlin is vice president of marketing and communications with the Tampa Bay Partnership, which sponsors the One Bay Healthy Communities initiative. She says businesses care about the region's health.

“Health is a factor that they look at as far as their employees are concerned and they not only want to make sure their employees are healthy and productive but they have the opportunities in the community to support those healthy practices,” she said.

The One Bay report did have some good news. Coronary heart disease, stroke and cancer deaths are on a downward trend, and the region's death rate for stroke is lower than the national average.